Release from 28.02.2024

Merano and Unterland with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals

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The second games of the two "best-of-three" pre-playoff series in the Alps Hockey League are on the programme on Thursday. The Hockey Unterland Cavaliers (against HC Gherdeina valgardena.it) and HC Meran/o Pircher (against EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel) can both advance to the quarter-finals in front of their home crowd.

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Alps Hockey League | Pre-Playoffs 2:
Thu, 29.02.2024, 20:00: Hockey Unterland Cavaliers - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it
Referees: HOLZER, VIRTA, Cristeli, Pace | >> valcome.tv <<
Standing in the "best-of-three" series 1:0

Unterland took the lead in the series on Tuesday, with goalie Simone Peiti recording 36 saves in the 4:2 road win. The team from Neumarkt can now secure their place in the quarter-finals in front of a home crowd on Thursday. Last year, the then league newcomers made it straight into the top eight. Unterland have won their last five home games, while Gröden prevailed 2:1 on their last visit to the Würtharena in November. The "Furie" have recently won four away games in a row, scoring at least four goals each time. Yesterday, the team from Wolkenstein could not score at even-strength, with both goals coming on the power play.

Thu, 29.02.2024, 20:30: HC Meran/o Pircher - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: OREL, REZEK, Arlic, Puff | >> valcome.tv <<
Standing in the "best-of-three" series 1:0

After HC Merano only qualified for the pre-playoffs on the last matchday of the intermediate round, the South Tyroleans got off to a perfect start in the final race for the quarter-finals. After taking an early lead, Meran won 6:3 in Kitzbühel, with six different players on the scoresheet for the visitors. Both teams scored two goals each on power play. Merano has recently won three games in a row, with head coach Jarrod Skalde's team scoring 15 goals in the process. The South Tyroleans can qualify for the AHL quarter-finals for the first time on Thursday. But Kitzbühel wants to bring the series back to Tirol. Coach Marco Pewal's team won the first duel of the season in Merano 5:4, and the KEC has won three out of four road games in league history at Meranarena.

Possible quarter-final pick on Friday
If both best-of-three series come to an end on Thursday, the quarter-final pairings will be chosen in a manager video conference on Friday morning. The duels will then be announced on the Alps Hockey League channels.

Streaming "Playoff Pass" is available
All games of the postseason can be seen in the livestream on valcome.tv. With the "Playoff Pass", all matches from the pre-playoffs to the decisive final can be streamed for €50. The cost of a "single ticket" is €7.50.

>> To the playoff pass <<

Photo: KEC_Kickenweitz